"To serve Qin in the morning and Chu at night" literally means to lean toward the State of Qin in the morning and switch allegiance to the State of Chu in the evening. During the Warring States period, the two great powers of Qin and Chu were locked in confrontation, and the small states caught between them, in order to survive, sometimes sided with Qin and sometimes with Chu, proving fickle and inconsistent. This idiom arose from that context. It is used as a metaphor for people who lack firm positions and principles, who trim their sails to the wind, and who change their attitudes at any time. It carries a strongly derogatory connotation and is often used to criticize political opportunists, dishonest business practices, or snobbish people in personal relationships. It is mostly used to describe someone whose stance is unsteady and who repeatedly switches sides, or to depict people wavering amid a volatile situation. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the diplomatic strategies of alliance and counter-alliance during the Warring States period, and also warns later generations of the importance of loyalty and good faith. Its deeper meaning lies in emphasizing that one should have resolve in conducting oneself and handling affairs, and must not lose principles for the sake of profit. Emotionally, this idiom expresses contempt for and criticism of fickle behavior.
📝 Example
1. In the business world, he was like one who serves Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening—allying with whoever offered him more benefits—and ultimately lost the trust of all his partners. (A metaphor for someone who is fickle and has no fixed stance.)
2. That politician was like one who serves Qin in the morning and Chu in the evening—yesterday he still supported this policy, and today he publicly opposed it—making it hard for people to figure him out. (Describes someone who trims his sails to the wind and changes his attitude at any time.)